Bette: Yes, Simone. Im worried about you. I got the painting a couple of weeks ago. Do I need to worry that you intend to do Tina harm?
Simone: No”no I just think she should go quietly so you and I can start our life together. Bette I know we are meant to be together and if you are honest with yourself you know it too.

Bette sat there with a look of bewilderment and confusion plastered across her face. Simone was indeed a lunatic and this wouldnt be easy.

TBC

The waiter had come to take their order and Bette was happy for the distraction. She would take this time to contemplate how she would deal with this crazy young lady.
As soon as they finished ordering Bette took a deep breath and began.

Bette: Simone, have I ever given you any indication that I was interested in any kind of personal relationship with you?
Simone: Bette youve been there for me, encouraging me, and I see the way you look at me. You think Im beautiful and I know you think Im talented and you know Id take good care of you if you gave me a chance.
Bette: Simone”I mean this with all due respect, but I already have the most beautiful woman in the world and she takes care of me. Whats better, we take care of each other and I admit I think you are extremely talented but any interest I have in you stops there”with your art, there is nothing else between us. I am truly happily married.
Simone: Is your wife? I mean if Ms. Perfect”Tina, was happy she would have never kissed me.
Bette: Shes entitled to a mistake and Simone thats exactly what youve been since day one, a mistake. Im beginning to regret the day I met you despite your talent. All I can see now is the grief youve tried to cause. Id like to sever all ties and forget we ever met.
Simone: Dont say that. DO NOT EVER SAY THAT. Bette dont you see Im better for you than Tina. Id never kiss anyone else if you were mine. *****, Id never even think of anyone else. EVER!

Just then Bette noticed Simones angry expression melt away as the waiter brought their dinners. The fact that Simone could change her expressions so quickly kind of terrified Bette. The unpredictable behavior was the scariest thing about dealing with anyone who didnt have a firm grasp on reality. Bette just looked on not knowing what to expect.

Simone had ordered a salad and a steak while Bette opted for a salad only. She really didnt want to eat at all.

The orderly who was sitting close by moved closer to the end of his booth seat prepared to intervene as he heard Simone raise her voice right before the waiter brought their food. He was poised to respond if he needed to. Bette sat there reflecting on what Simone had asked”about Tina being happy or not. She was becoming angry and scared all at once and realizing this probably wasnt the best emotional state to be in dealing with Simone. Bette knew she had to try to defuse the situation. Bette knew that Simone thought she was perfect or at least above reproach regarding infidelity and being a supportive spouse. According to Denise, Simone had come to that conclusion during Bettes tearful response to Fay Buckleys inappropriate bashing regarding the loss of Tina and Bettes baby. Simone didnt know that like Denise, Bette was a cheater too. Of course Bette didnt have an affair before or during Tinas pregnancy, but after they lost their baby and really it didnt matter when or why, cheating was the one thing Bette deplored and it was the one thing she did to escape the pain of her life during that tragic time. There was no excuse and to this day Bette still hated herself for betraying Tina and herself by becoming the thing she hated most. Bette thought to herself, The thing I hate about myself the most may be the very thing to wake Simone up and to clear up her rose colored view of who I am. Maybe its true; maybe, the truth will set me free from this crazy girls inappropriate behavior. Here goes nothing.

Bette: (speaking in a calm voice) Simone maybe youre right. Maybe you would be better suited for me. I mean thinking back Tina left me once whos to say she wouldnt leave me again. Youd never leave me would you?
Simone: Of course, I would never leave you. You are coming around. I thought Tina was unworthy I didnt think she was stupid. Why on Gods green earth did she leave you?
Bette: (bracing herself) Well she left me after she found out about Candace.
Simone: (wrinkling her brow) Whos Candace?
Bette: Oh”you dont know? Candace is a carpenter I worked with. Well there was this undeniable attraction and she needed me when I didnt feel very needed by Tina. Lets just say one thing led to another and we had an affair.
Simone sat there staring intently at Bettes mouth as she spoke. She couldnt believe her ears”Bette a cheater? It didnt add up. Simone looked away for a brief moment and without a thought or a plan with no hint or suggestion of premeditation she picked up her steak knife and lunged towards Bette with the quickest of motion and complete ease. There didnt seem to be any resemblance of a moral boundary that would delay her progress. No, the girl was just as quick as she was crazy and this was very bad news for an unsuspecting Bette.

Bette saw the knife but for a brief moment she looked in Simones greenish blue eyes to see if she could plea with her to stop. Simones eyes were dead. Bette refused to let this moment be her last moment here on earth. This would not be the way she would leave this world. Bette would leave surrounded by her children, and grandchildren, and great grandchildren after telling them how much she loved them after leading a full, loving life she would drift off to an un-waking sleep. She WOULD NOT fall tragic prey to the likes of crazy ***** Simone Lennox. Bette felt the knife pierce her skin. The force behind the blow made it seem as if elephants had stood on her chest. Thankfully, at the moment before the knife could penetrate Bette moved a little to the right the knife missing her heart by sheer millimeters. While the knife still stuck out from her chest she recalled Kits advicestick, bob, and weave. Her mind was willing but her body unable to do all three steps. Bette did manage to ball her hand into a fist and muster enough strength to hit Simone square, in the jaw, which promptly landed her back into her seat and away from both the knife and Bette.

It seemed as if it took the orderly minutes, in reality it took a few seconds, for him to come to Bettes aid and at this point it was too late to prevent the damage that had already been done. He did come restrain an unusually calm Simone. Denise and the counselor rushed over to the table as the waiter and manager came to get Bette the help she would need.
Counselor: Oh my God there is blood everywhere. Someone call the police and an ambulance.
Bette: (whispering through labored breath) Just call the ambulance. We dont need the police.

The counselor looked at Bette as if SHE were crazy. As she followed Bettes quickly closing eyes to a beautifully sad scene. Denise was holding and rocking Simone who was apparently in shock after seeing all the blood.
Simone: What did I do? Ive been such a fool. Denise, please make it better”make me better. Someone, HELP ME!
Counselor: Well call the all the authorities. Youll thank me for it later.
Simone: (kept yelling) HELP ME! HELP ME! HELP ME!.

The paramedics rush in finding Bette barely conscious.

Bettes eyes were beginning to feel heavy and she was getting tired. She thought. If only I can rest my eyes just for a few minutes. Who needs help? Why is someone shouting for help? I just want to sleep. I wonder what T is doing right now?

Back at Bette and Tinas
Tina, Shane, and Kit were sitting back at the house waiting on Bette to call. They were laughing about Shane working out and appearing to strike gold by meeting Carmen her first night at the gym.

Kit: Hey Im totally straight Shane and even I can see her ***** appeal. Lets hope shes nice too or is that asking for too much.
Tina: Well your sister is ***** and sweet. I must admit Ive got the total package with Bette.
Kit: Please dont tell me my sister is *****”thats something I dont want to know, ok? And as far as Bette being sweet is concerned”that depends on which way the wind is blowing.
Shane: Come on Kit, Bette really is cool and you know it.
Kit: I suppose youre right about my baby sis she is cool. But I dont want to hear about her being *****”its too much.
Tina: (laughing) Just cause you dont believe something, it doesnt mean it isnt true.
Shane: (laughing) Kit shes got a point.
Kit: Yeah, Yeah. Where is that wife of yours anyway? We should have heard something by now. Where were they meeting?
Tina: Bette wrote it down and put it on the fridge. You know they say, no news is good news. Simone is probably

The phone rings interrupting Tina.

TBC